By night we wake up not to enjoy the it but to be slave to it.
---
"I should get going before I lose my mind."
But Wil was not going anywhere, for the abrupt appearance of someone put him to a halt.
"Neil," Wil spoke lowly. Beside the bully was his girlfriend, Mary. "I'm not in the mood for a scene right now."
"I'm not here for that," Neil began, hesitant to continue what he was about to say. "I heard that you helped my girlfriend last night. I just want to thank you for what you did, and I also want to say sorry for trying to beat you up."
Sincerely, Neil bowed and lowered his head to show Wil that he had put his heart into it. His heartfelt gratitude seemed so true that Wil just could not ignore it, and he knew that by saying nothing about it he would look rude and unmannered.
"I merely accompanied her. It was nothing worth bowing your head, so raise them, and I hold no grudge against you for chasing me all the way to the rooftop."
"Still, I want you to accept my gratitude and apology!" Stubbornly, Neil refused to raise his head until Wil accepted his words.
"Okay, okay, raise them now. People are now starting to stop and take a look, so lift your head."
"Really? We're good now, yeah? Thank you!"
"Alright!" Mary clapped her hands. "This ought to be celebrated, don't you two think?"
"Yes, Wil. We should hang out!"
Wil initially thought of rejecting their offer. The scene just now was draining in itself for him. What more hanging out with them?
"I must refuse," denied Wil. "While it doesn't really sound bad, I'm afraid I still have things to do."
"Oh man, you know it's gonna be later. We know we still have classes to attend to. So, later in the evening?"
"If..."
"Then, it's settled! We'll drop by your class later."
"Please don't."
"No more refusal, dude. You're coming with us."
Neil's assertive behavior was something Wil could not deal with, thus being coerced into something he does not really wanna do. If it was just for one time, I guess it would not hurt.
"Okay, whatever..."
Wil surrendered and just went on his day.
***
Quietly, every student in the class was listening to the professor speaking in front of them. Wil was inside the computer lab, facing a computer set up while typing on the command prompt.
The lesson was almost finished and every student was getting ready to leave when news about the missing professor and student, who were both suspected of eloping, came through the speakers installed in each room.
[Announcement, students, professors, and faculty members of our university, we would like to inform everyone that the ongoing search for Professor Marx and his student, Janna, just came to a close. The authorities had already ruled it out as a double suicide, for the police had found suicide notes and letters for their families they left behind on the school rooftop. We suggest that none of you press on the matter anymore.]
"Ehh, they're just gonna rule it out like that? Are they not going to go look for their bodies?"
Murmurs and chattering teeth echoed at each other's ears, discussing the case with their small groups and expressing their opinions on the matter.
The case was the talk of the students and even the professors could not help discuss the topic among themselves.
People thought that the news about the missing teacher and student was made up by the authorities to put a stop to those who were investigating it. However, what they did just created more suspicion if that was what they thought would happen.
"Well, if it wasn't Wilfritz," a familiar voice spoke from behind Wil while he was taking the stairs to the ground floor of the main building. "On your way home?"
"Aralina..." Wil still hasn't forgotten the embarrassing moment he had a while ago, becoming the reason for his eye contact avoidance. He just can't see eye to eye with her after that, feeling the awkwardness he remembered. "Yes. Are you going home too?"
Without waiting for Aralina to match his pace, Wil began descending while the lady carefully took her steps behind him.
"I am, though I wish I could hang out with my friends, too. Damn, I wish I had friends I can hang out with in the first place."
Between offering to let Aralina come with him with Neil and Mary, and turning a deaf ear to Aralina's indirect way of saying she wanted to hang out, Wil was stuck. But eliminating the latter one seemed the most logical way, and he felt indebted to her for recommending a book, which she thought anyone would like.
"Then, do you wanna come along with me and two more people? They're a couple who insisted I come with them. I just could not say no to their persistence."
As if shocked and she was not expecting Wil to offer her to tag along, Aralina expressed her surprise.
"Ehh, really? Will it be okay for them? I don't want to impose on your fun time with your friends, Wilfritz."
Wil kind of understood why Aralina was acting that way. That's just common courtesy. This a logical and kind response to Wil's invite.
"I'm sure they won't be against it. I can say that they are... kind people."
Wil was hesitant to be inclusive about Neil being kind when he knew what kind of a person the man was. But then, he fully knows and remembers that anyone can change and be better for good. If anyone is capable of change, Wil is sure that Neil can become the best version of himself, considering how he has a sweet girlfriend like Mary.
"Is that so? Then, what are we waiting for? Let's meet them."
Happily, Aralina went down the stairs to the ground floor without any care for her steps. And the lady even has high heels on and a tight skirt. Moreover, her black tights emphasized her great thick and long legs.
Wil was just a few steps away from the stairs when both Neil and Mary appeared from the sidelines. They were holding hands like a couple should do, but there are partners who do not like being cozy with their loved ones in public.